EU to initiate FTA with Pakistan in Feb

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: European Union (EU) has finally agreed to initiate talks on Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan and the first round of negotiations would be held in February 2010.

This was stated by Federal Secretary Commerce Salman Ghani while speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Saturday. Terming it an achievement and a result of hectic efforts on part of the government, he said, it would pave way for a duty free access to EU.

Regarding a similar agreement with the United States, he said Americans were particularly more interested in Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) than Free Market Access. On Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), Ghani said that two rounds of talks had already been held and the private sector would be taken onboard for the removal of their apprehensions regarding smuggling.

He assured the LCCI of his full support regarding LCCI Business Census of Lahore as the fact remains that correct data would help pave way for sector specific decision-making. He said the proposed census would help strengthen the government’s database that was a need of the hour.

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